Prepare Source Files for QCDS: PDF-Only Template Intake

Current QCDS Template intake accepts PDF documents for signing Templates. Convert DOC, DOCX, or other editable source files to a stable PDF before upload, then let QCDS validate, quarantine, protect, and prepare that PDF for the visual builder.

QCDS Template Intake Is PDF-Only

The current frontend upload control accepts .pdf / application/pdf, and QCDS document intake verifies the detected file type on the server. A filename ending in .pdf is not enough if the actual file content is another format.

If your original document is DOC, DOCX, ODT, Pages, or another editable format, export or print it to PDF with the application that created it, review the result, and upload the PDF to QCDS. Current QCDS does not use LibreOffice or another external office-document converter as part of Template intake.

Prepare a Stable PDF Before Upload

  • Confirm the page size, orientation, margins, and page order are final.
  • Embed or flatten fonts/images as appropriate for your PDF-producing application.
  • Open the exported PDF outside QCDS and verify every page looks correct.
  • Avoid relying on active PDF features such as JavaScript, launch actions, embedded files, remote actions, or unsupported encryption.
  • Keep the file within your site's configured QCDS upload-size limit. The component default is 100 MB unless the administrator changes it.

What QCDS Checks

QCDS sends uploads through quarantine and server-side inspection before they become protected document sources. The checks include actual MIME detection, filename/type consistency, basic PDF structure, the PDF header/end marker and cross-reference structure, configured size limits, and blocked active-content patterns. The upload is then subject to the configured malware policy before promotion to protected storage.

After the source passes intake, QCDS uses its self-contained PDF preparation path to create the canonical PDF/page geometry used by the builder. External LibreOffice, Poppler, shell commands, or a remote PDF CDN are not required for the normal QCDS document workflow.

If QCDS Rejects the File

  1. Read the upload/preparation error instead of repeatedly renaming the same file.
  2. Confirm the file is genuinely a PDF and opens normally in a trusted PDF viewer.
  3. If the source came from Word or another editor, export a fresh PDF and try that new file.
  4. Remove active content, embedded attachments, encryption, or other unusual PDF features if the inspection reports them.
  5. If the file exceeds the site's configured upload limit, reduce the PDF size or have the Joomla/QCDS administrator review the configured limit.
  6. If upload succeeds but page preparation fails, keep the original PDF and error details for support; do not assume the Template itself is corrupt.

Verify Before Building Fields

After a successful upload, confirm QCDS reports the document as prepared/ready, displays the expected page count, and renders the pages correctly in the builder. Only then place fields whose coordinates depend on that page geometry.

Community Discussion

Want to compare workflows, share practical tips, or discuss how you use this QCDS feature? Visit the QC Digital Signature Community. For private support, bug reports, account-specific issues, or feature requests, use the QuantaCade support system.